Let me start with a quick tweet from @Pac12Networks:
Double dose of @UCLAAthletics tonight. @UCLAWSoccer at 6pm PT, #pac12fb Training Camp w/ @UCLAFootball right after: http://t.co/kpi09ZU4aS
— Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) August 23, 2013
In case you want to get a little idea of what the preview show from training campaign is going to be about check out this 3 minute clip of Mike Yam and Coach Rick Neuheisel interviewing Coach Jim Mora here. There is also this video in which both Yam and Neuheisel gives us a little glimpse of the sights and sounds from Spaulding (with close shots of that drone).
From practice Chris Foster from the LA Times has these updates (on Barr):
#UCLA still not in total Nevada prep...no scout teams with Nevada jersey numbers. @UCLAFootball
— chris foster (@cfosterlatimes) August 23, 2013
And Nevada prep:
#UCLA still not in total Nevada prep...no scout teams with Nevada jersey numbers. @UCLAFootball
— chris foster (@cfosterlatimes) August 23, 2013
I am not going to put too much stock in a Foster tweet about the team not prepping for the Wolf Packs yet b/c I am guessing the coaches have already put their plans in place and have gone over some of it with the players. It's a matter of going through the drills at practice and I am guessing they are not going to make everything available for reporters.
In any event, we don't have to wait for the scout team. We can start reading up on Nevada now and we can start with this standard preview from the Sports Network which points to defense as "an area of concern" for Brian Polian's team:
As powerful as the Nevada offense can be, the defense is the area for concern right now. The group finished ninth in the MWC and 110th in the nation in stopping the run, allowing 211.9 ypg a season ago. Obviously, while the Pack runs the ball with great efficiency on offense, this side of the ball would like to become a bit more controlling.
Brock Hekking and Lenny Jones reprise their roles at defensive ends, the former being the top returning tackler for the group with 75 stops in 2012. Hekking, the only Nevada player chosen for the preseason All-MWC team by league media, was named to the Lombardi Watch List after pacing the Pack in tackles for loss (10.0) and sacks (8.0) a year ago.
Jones finished with only 37 stops in 13 games, but still he made a major impact with seven TFL and five sacks, not to mention three forced fumbles to tie for the team lead in the latter category.
Also returning along the defensive line are Jordan Hanson and Jack Reynoso, the latter coming up with four more overall tackles (44) than Hanson, despite playing in just 10 games, compared to 13 for his line mate.
Perhaps the biggest obstacle for Nevada is finding a replacement for Albert Rosette who tallied a staggering 135 tackles, his average of 10.4 stops per game being tops in the MWC, at linebacker. In fact, the squad has to come up with an entirely new crop of starters at the linebacker positions, and the same almost goes for the secondary where cornerback Charles Garrett is the only returning starter.
Hmm. About that last sentence -- I am sure that will get Mazzone(s) and no. 17 excited ... just a bit.
GO BRUINS.